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THE 


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3 


INAUGURAL 

Speeches a. f 7 

Off 


WASHINGTON, ADAMS and 
JEFFERSON. 

7 






Prinlid by H. Sprague, 1802 - 






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George Wafhington’s Speech. 

A 

New-Tork, April 30 , 178 ^. 

FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE, AND 

OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

AMONG the viciflitudes inch* 
dent to life, no event could have filled 
me with greater anxieties than that of 
which the notification was tranfmitted by 
your order, and received on the 14th day 
of the prefent month. On the one hand, 

I was fummoned by my country, whofe 
voice I can never hear but with venera¬ 
tion and love, from a retreat which I had 
chofen with the fondeft prediie&ion, and, 
in my flattering hopes, with an immuta¬ 
ble decifion as the afylum of my declin¬ 
ing years: A retreat which was rendered 
every day more necefiary as well as more 
dear to me, by the addition cf habit to 
.inclination, and of frequent interruptions 
in my health to the gradual wafte com> 



6 

of every public and prinate good, I aflure 
myfelf that it expreffes your fentiments 
not lefs than my own; nor thofe of my 
fellow citizens at large, lefs than either. 
No people can be bound to acknowledge 
and adore the invifible hand, which con¬ 
ducts the affairs of men more than the- 
people of the United States. Every ftep, 
by which they have advanced to the char¬ 
acter of an independent nation, feems to 
have been diftinguifhed by fome token of 
providential agency. And in the import¬ 
ant revolution juft accomplifhed in the 
fyftem of their united government, the 
tranquil deliberations and voluntary con¬ 
tent of fo many diftinCt communities, 
from which the event has refulted, cannot 
be compared with the means by which 
moft governments have been eftablifhed, 
without fome return ^of pious gratitude, 
along with an humble anticipation of the 
future bleffmgs which the pafl feem to 
prefage. Thefe reflections, arifmg out o£ 


7 

the prefent crifis, have forced themfelve# 
too flrongly on my mind to be fuppref- 
fed. You will join with me, I trull, in 
thinking that there are none under the 
inflnence of which, the proceedings of a 
new and free government can more auf- 
picioufly commence. 

* By the article eflablifhing the execu¬ 
tive department, it is made the duty of 
the Prefident “ to recommend to your 
confideration, fuch meafures as he lhall 
judge necelfary and expedient. ,, The 
circumllances under which I now meet 
you, will acquit me from entering into 
that fubjedt farther than to refer you to 
the great Conllitutional Charter under 
which we are aflembled ; and which, in 
# defining your powers, defignates the ob¬ 
jects to which your attention is to be giv¬ 
en. It will be more confiflent with thofe 
circumllances, and far more congenial 
with the feelings which adluate me, to 
rfubftitute in place of a recommendation 



3 

of particular meafures, the tribute that is 
due to the talents, the re&itude, and the 
patriotifm which adorn the characters fe- 
le&ed to devife and adopt them. In 
thefe honorable qualifications, I behold 
the fureft pledges, that as on one fide, no 
feparate views nor party animofities, will 
mifdireft the comprehenfive and equal 
eye which ought to watch over this great 
affemblage of communities and interefts : 
fo, on another, that the foundations of 
our national policy will be laid in the 
pure and immutable principles of private 
morality ; and the pre-eminence of a free 
government be exemplified by all the at¬ 
tributes which can win the affe&ions of 
its citizens, and command the refped of 
the world. 

I dwell on this profpeS with every fat- 
isfa&ion which an ardent love for my 
country can infpire ; fmce there is no 
truth more thoroughly eflablifhed, than 
that there exifls in the economy and 


9 

courfe of nature, an indiffoluble union be* 
tween virtue and happinefs—between duty 
and advantage—between the genuine 
maxims of an honed: and magnanimous 
policy, and the folid rewards of public 
profperity and felicity. Since we ought 
to be no lefs perfuaded that the propitious 
fmiles of Heaven can never be expected 
on a nation that difregards the eternel 
rules of order and right, which Heaven 
itfelf has ordained. And fmce the prefer- 
vation of the facred fire of liberty, and 
the defliny of the republican model of 
government, are juflly confidered as deep* 
ly , perhaps, as finally flaked, on the expe¬ 
riment entrufled to the hands of the 
American people; ' 

Befides the ordinary obje&s fubmitted 
to your care, it will remain with your 
judgment to decide hew far an exercefe 
of the occafional power delegated by the 
Fifth Article of the Conflitution is render¬ 
ed expedient at the prefent juncture by 

B 


IO 

the nature of objections which have been 
urged againlt the fyflem, or by the degree 
of inquietude which has given birth to 
them. Inflead of undertaking particultar 
recommendations on this fubjeCt, in which 
I could be guided by no lights derived 
from official opportunities, I fhall again 
give way to my entire confidence in your 
difcernment and purfuit of the public 
good: For I allure myfelf, that whilfl 
you carefully avoid every alteration which 
might endanger the benefits of an ununited 
and effective government, or which ought 
to await the future leffons of experience ; 
■a reverence for the charaCteriftic rights of 
freemen, and a regard for the public har¬ 
mony, will fufficiently influence your de¬ 
liberations on the queltion, how far the 
former can be more impregnably fortified, 
or the latter be fafely and advantageouf- 
ly promoted. 

To the preceding obfervations I have 
one to add, which will be molt properly 


11 

addrefied to the Houfe of Reprefentatw.es. 

It concerns myfelf, and will therefore be 
as brief as poflible. When I was firft 
honoured with a call into the fervice of 
my country, then on the eve of an ardu¬ 
ous flruggle for its liberties, the light in 
which I contemplated my duty, required 
that I fhould renounce every pecuniary 
compenfation. From this refolution I 
have in no inftance departed. And being 
ftill under the impreflions which produc¬ 
ed it, I muft decline as inapplicable to my- 
felf, any fhare in the perfonal emoluments, 
which may be indifpenfably included in a 
permanent provifion for the executive de¬ 
partment ; and muft accordingly pray 
that the pecuniary eftimates for the ftation 
in which I am placed, may, during my 
continuation in it, be limited to fuch a&u- 
al expenditures as the public good may 
be thought to require. 

Having thus imparted to you my fenti 7 
ments, as they have been awakened by 


12 

the occafion which brings us together, I 
{hall take my pmfent leave; but not 
without reforting once more to the be¬ 
nign Parent of the human race, in hum¬ 
ble fupplication, that fmce he has been 
pleafed to favor the American people 
with opportunities for deliberating in per¬ 
fect tranquillity, and difpofitions for de¬ 
ciding with unparalleled unanimity on a 
form of government for the fecurity of 
their Union, and the advancement of 
their happinefs \ fo his divine blefiing 
may be equally confpicuous in the enlarged 
views, the temperate confutations, and 
the wife meafures on which the fuccefs of 
phis government muft depend. 


J 5 


John Adams’ Speech. 


Philadelphia , March 4 , 1797 . 


When it was firfl perceived, 
in early times, that no middle courfe for 
America remained; between unlimited 
fubmiffion to a foreign legiflature and 3, 
total independence of its claims; men of 
fefledion, were lefs apprehenfive of dan- 
ger, from the formidable power of Fleets, 
Sand Armies, they muff determine to re¬ 
fill, than from thofe contells and diffen* 
tions, which would certainly arife, con¬ 
cerning the forms of government to be in- 
flituted, over the whole and over the parts 
of this extenfive country. Relying how¬ 
ever, on the- purity of their intentions, 
the jullice of their caufe, and the integri¬ 
ty and intelligence of the people under an 
t&ver-ruling Providence, which had fo fig- 


i4 

nally protected this country from the firft. 
The Reprefentatives of this Nation , then 
confifiing of little more than half its prefent 
numbers , not only broke to pieces the chains 
which were foregoing , and the Rod of Iron 
that was lifted up, but firmly cut afumder 
the tcis which had bound them , and launch - 
cd into an Ocean of Uncertainty . 

The zeal and ardour of the people 
during the revolutionary war, fupplying 
the place of government, commenced a 
degree of order, fufficient at lead for the 
temporary prefervation of fociety. The 
Confederation, which was early felt to be 
neceffary was prepared from the models 
of the Batavian and Helvetic Confedera¬ 
cies, the only examples which remain 
with any detail and precifion, in Hiftory, 
and certainly the only ones, which the 
people at large, had ever confidered,— 
But refle&ing on the flriking difference, 
in fo many particulars, between this coun¬ 
try and thofe where a Courier may go 


1 6 

from the feat of government to the fron¬ 
tier in fingle day, it was then certainly 
forefeen by fome, who aflifled in Con- 
grefs at the formation of it, that it could 
not be durable. 

Negligence of its regulations, inatten¬ 
tion to its recommendations, if not difo- 
bedience to its authority, not only in indi¬ 
viduals but in Hates, foon appeared, with 
their melancholy confequences; univer- 
fal languor, jealoufies and rivalries of 
Hates ; decline of navigation and com¬ 
merce ; difcouragement of neceffary man¬ 
ufactures ; univerfal fall in the value of 
lands and their produce ; contempt of 
public and private faith ; lofs of confider- 
ation and credit with foreign nations ; and 
at length, in difcontents, animofities, com¬ 
binations, partial conventions, and infur- 
re&ions, threatening fome great national 
calamity. 

In this dangerous crifis, the people of 
America were not abandoned by their uf- 


tial good fenfe, prefence of mind, refolu- 
tion or integrity. Meafures were purfued 
to concert a plan, to form a more perfect 
tinion, eftablifh juftice, enfure domeflic 
tranquillity, provide for the common de¬ 
fence, promote the general welfare, and 
fecure the bleflings of liberty. The pub¬ 
lic difquifitions, difcuflions and delibera¬ 
tions iffued in the prefent happy conflitu- 
tion of government. 

Employed in the fervice of my country 
abroad during the whole courfe of thefe 
tranfa&ions, I firlt faw the Confutation 
of the United States in a Foreign Coun¬ 
try. Irritated by no literary altercation, 
animated by no public debate, heated by 
no party animofity, I read it with great 
fatisfadion,asarefultof good heads,promp¬ 
ted by good heart; as an experiment, bet¬ 
ter adapted to the genius, chara&er, and re¬ 
lations of this nation and country, than any 
which had ever been propofed or fuggefl- 
ed. In its general principles and great 


*7 

was conformable to fuch a fyftem of gov- 
eminent, as I had ever mod; efteemed, 
and in fome ftates, my own native flate 
in particular, had contributed to eftablilh. 
Claiming a right of fuffrage in common 
with my fellow-citizens, in the adoption 
or reje&ion of a conflitution which was 
to rule me and my pofterity, as well as 
them and theirs, I did not hefitate to ex- 
prefs my approbation of it, on all occa- 
fions, in public and in private. It was 
not then, nor has been fince, any objec¬ 
tion to it, in my mind, that the Execu¬ 
tive and Senate were not more perma¬ 
nent. Nor have I entertained a thought 
of promoting any alteration in it, but fuch 
as the People themfelves, in the courfe of 
their experience fhould fee and feel to be 
rieceffary or expedient and by their Rep. 
refentatives in Congrefs and the State 
Legiflatures, according to the Conftitu- 
tion itfelf, adopt and ordain. 

Returning to the bofom of my coun- 
c 


i8 

fry, after a painful reparation from it, for 
ten years, I had the honour to be ele&ed 
to a ftation under the new order of things, 
and I have repeatedly laid myfelf under 
(he mod ferious obligations to fupport the 
confutation. The operation of it has 
equalled the mod fanguine exepe&atins 
of its friends J and from an habitual at¬ 
tention to it, fatisfa&ion in its adminidra* 
tion and delight in its ededs, upon the 
peace, order, profperity and happinefs of 
the nation, I have acquired an habitual 
attachment to it, and veneration for it. 

What other form of Government indeed 
can fo well deferve our efteem and love f 

There may be little folidity in an an¬ 
cient idea, that congregations of men in¬ 
fo cities and nations, are the mod pleafing 
qbje&sin the fight of fuperior intelligences: 
but this is very certain, that to a benevo¬ 
lent humane mind, there can benofpe&acle 
prefented by any nation, more pleafing 
more noble, majedic or augud, than ai* 


l 9 

affembly like that which has fo often been 
feen in this and the other chamber of 
Congrefs of a government, in which the 
executive authority, as well as that of all 
the branches of the legiflature, are exercifl 
ed by citizens, feletled, at regular peri* 
ods, by their neighbours, to * make and 
execute laws for the general good. Can 
any thing effential, any thing more than 
mere ornament and decoration be added 
to this by robes or diamonds ? Can au¬ 
thority be more amiable or refpe&able, 
when it defcends from accidents, or infib 
tutions eflablifhed in remote antiquity;, 
than when it fprings frefh from the hearts 
and judgments of an honeft and enlight' 
cned people? For It is the people only 
that are reprefented ; it is their power and 
snajefly, that is remedied and only for their 
good, in every legitimate government, un¬ 
der whatever form it may appear. The 
exigence of fuch a government as ours, 
for any length of time, is a full proof of 


20 

a general diffemination of knowledge and 
virtue, throughout the whole body of the 
people. And what objeCt or confidera- 
tion more pleafmg than this can be pre- 
fented to the human mind ? If national 
pride is ever juftifiable or excufable, it is 
when it fprings, not from power or rich¬ 
es, grandeur or glory, but from convict¬ 
ion of national innocence, information 
and benevolence. 

In the midfl of thefe pleafmg ideas, 
we fhould be unfaithful to ourfelves, if 
we fhould ever lofe fight of the danger to 
our liberties, if any thing partial or extra¬ 
neous fhould infeCt the purity of our free, 
fair, virtuous and independent elections. 
If an election is to be determined by a 
majority of a fingle vote, and that can be 
procured by a party, through artifice or 
corruption, the government may be the 
choice of a party, for its own ends, not 
of the nation, for the national good. If 
that folitary fuffrage can be obtained by 


21 

foreign nations by flattery or menaces, by 
fraud or violence, by terror, intrigue or 
venality, the government may not be the 
choice of the American people, but of 
foreign nations. It may be foreign na¬ 
tions who govern us, and not we the peo¬ 
ple, who govern ourfelves. And candid 
men will acknowledge, that in fuch cafes, 
choice would have little advantage to 
boaft of, over lot or chance. 

Such is the amiable and interefling 
fyftem of government (and fuch are fome 
of the abufes to which it may be expofed) 
which the people of America have exhib¬ 
ited to the admiration and anxiety of the 
wife and virtuous of all nations, for eight 
years, under, the adminiflration of a citi¬ 
zen, who, by a longcourfe of great a&ions, 
regulated by prudence juftice, temperance 
and fortitude; conducing a people, infpir- 
ed with the fame virtues, and animated with 
the fame ardent patriotifm andlove of liber¬ 
ty, to independence and peace, to increaf- 


22 

frig wealth and unexampled profperityj 
has merited the gratitude of his fellow- 
citizens, commanded the highefl praifes 
of foreign nations* and fecured immortal 
glory with pofterity. 

In that retirement which is his volun¬ 
tary choice, may he long live to enjoy the 
delicious recollection of his fervices, the 
gratitude of mankind ; the happy fruits 
of them to himfelf and the world, which 
are daily increafing and that fplendid prof- 
peCt of the future fortunes of his country, 
which is opening from year to year. 
His name may be {till a rampart, and the 
knowledge that he lives a bulwark againfi 
all open or fecret enemies of his country’s 
peace. 

This example has been recommended 
to the imitation of his. fucceffors, by both 
houfes of Congrefs, and by the voice of 
the legiflatures and the people, through¬ 
out the nation. 


*3 

On this fubje& it might become ttit 
better to be blent, or to fpeak with diffi- 
dence : But as fomething may be expect¬ 
ed, the occafion, I hope, will be admitted 
as an apology, if I venture to fay, that 

If a preference, upon principle, of a 
free republican government, formed upon 
long and ferious reflexion, after a dilli- 
gent and impartial enquiry after truth; 
If, an attachment to the Conflitution of 
the United States and a confcientious de* 
termination to fupport it, until it fhall be 
altered by the judgments and wiflies of 
the people, exprefled in the mode pre- 
fcribed in it:—if, a refpeClful attention 
to theConbitutionsof the individual bates, 
and a conftant caution and delicacy to¬ 
wards the bate governments ; if, an equal 
and impartial regard to the rights, inter- 
ebs, honor and happinefs of all the bates 
in the Union, without preference or re¬ 
gard to a Northern or Southern, or Eaft- 
ern or Webern pobtion, their various 



24 

political opinions on uneflfential paints, or 
their perianal attachments; if a love of 
virtuous men of all parties and denomina¬ 
tions ; If a love of fcience and letters, and 
a wilh to patronize every rational effort 
to encourage fchools, colleges, univerli- 
ties, academies, and every inflitution for 
propagating knowledge, virtue and reli¬ 
gion among all dalles of the people: not 
only for their benign influence on the 
happinefs of life, in all its Ilages and claf- 
fes, and of fociety in all its forms; but 
as the only means of preferving our Con- 
flitution from its natural enemies, the fpir- 
it of fophiflry, the fpirit of party, the fpir- 
it of intrigue, profligacy of corruption, 
and the pellilence of foreign influence,' 
which is the angel of deflrudion to Elec¬ 
tive Governments; if a love of equal 
laws, of juftice and humanity, in the in¬ 
terior adminiftration ; if an inclination to 
improve agriculture, commerce and man- 
fa&ure* for neceflity, convenience and 


25 

defence ; If a fpirit of equity and human¬ 
ity towards the aboriginal nations of A- 
merica, and a difpofition to meliorate 
their condition by inclining; them to be 
more friendly to us, and our citizens to 
be more friendly to them ; if an inflexible 
determination- to maintain peace and in¬ 
violable faith, with all nations, and that 
fyftem of neutrality and impartiality, 
among the belligerent powers of Europe, 
which has been adopted by this Govern¬ 
ment, and fo folemnly fan&ioned by both 
Houfes of Congrefs, and applauded by 
the Legiflatures of the States and the 
public opinion, until it /hall be otherwife 
ordained by Congrefs ; if a perfonal ef- 
teem for the French Nation, formed in a 
refidence of feven years, chiefly among 
them, and a fincere defire to preferve the 
friendfliip which has been fo much for the 
honor and intereft of both nations; If, 
while the confcious honor and integrity 
of the people of America, and the inter- 
D 


26 

sfcil fentiment of their own power and en¬ 
ergies muft be preferved, an earned en¬ 
deavor to invedigate every jud caufe and 
remove every colorable pretence of com¬ 
plaint ; if an intention to purfue by ami¬ 
cable negotiation, a reparation for the 
injuries that have been committed on the 
commerce of our fellow-citizens by what¬ 
ever nation; and if fuccefs cannot be ob¬ 
tained, to lay the fads before the Legif- 
lature, that they may confider, what fur¬ 
ther meafures the honor and intered of 
the Government and its condituents de¬ 
mand ; if a refolution to do judice, as far 
as may depend upon me, at all times and 
to all nations, and maintain peace, friend- 
ifhip and benevolence with all the world ; 
if an unfhaken confidence in the honor, 
fpirit, and refources of the American peo¬ 
ple, on which I have fo often hazarded 
my all, and never been deceived ; if ele¬ 
vated ideas of the high dedinies of this 
country, and of my own duties towards 




27 

it, founded on a knowledge of the moral 
principles and intellectual improvements 
of the people, deeply engraven on my 
mind in early life, and not pbfcured but 
exalted by experience and age And ? 
with humble reverence, I feel it to be my 
duty to add, if, a veneration for the reli r 
gion of a people, who profefs and call 
themfelves Chriftians, and a fixed refolu- 
tion to confider a decent refpeCt for Chrif- 
tianity, among the bed recommendations 
for the public fervice, can enable me, in 
any degree to comply with your wifhes, 
it fhall be my ftrenuous endeavour that 
this fagacious injunction of the two hous¬ 
es fhall not be without effeCt. 

With this great example before me y 
with the fenfe and fpirit, the faith and 
honor, the duty and interefl of the fame 
American people, pledged to fupport the 
Conftitution of the United States, I enter¬ 
tain no doubt of its continuance in all its 
pnrgy, and my mind is prepared, without 


28 

hefitation, to lay myfelf under the mod 
foLmn obligations to fupport it, to the 
utmoft of my power. 

And may that Being, who is Supreme 
over all, the patron of order, the fountain 
of juftice, and the prote&or, in all ages of 
the world, of virtuous liberty, continue 
his blefiing upon this nation and its gov¬ 
ernment, and give it all poflible fuccefs 
and duration, confiftent with the ends of 
his providence. 


29 


Thomas JefFerfon’s Speech. 


IVaJhlngton , March 4, 1801. 


FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS, 

Called upon to undertake 
the duties of the firfl Executive office of 
Gur country, I avail myfelf of the prefence 
of that portion of my fellow-citizens which 
is here affembled, to exprefs my grateful 
thanks for the favour with which they 
have been pleafed to look towards me, to 
declare a fine ere confcioufnefs that the 
talk is above my talents, and that I ap¬ 
proach it with thofe anxious and awful 
prefentiments which the greatnefs of the 
charge, and the weaknefs of my powers 
fo juflly infpire. A rifing nation, fpread 
over a wide and fruitful land, traverfmg 
all the feas with the rich productions of 
their induftry, engaged in commerce with 


5 ° 

nations who feel power and forget right, 
advancing rapidly to deftinies beyond the 
reach of mortal eye ; when I contemplate 
thefe tranfcendent objects, and fee the 
honour, the happinefs, and the hopes of 
this beloved country committed to the 
ifl'ue and the aufpices of this day, I Shrink 
from the contemplation, and humble roy- 
felf before the magnitude of the undertak¬ 
ing. Utterly indeed Should I defpair, 
did not the prefence of many, whom I 
h ere fee, remind me, that, in the other 
high authorities provided by our conflitu- 
tion, I Shall find refources of wifdom, of 
virtue, and of zeal, on which to rely un¬ 
der all difficulties. To you, then, gentle¬ 
men, who are charged with the Sovereign 
functions of legiflation, and to thofe affioci- 
ated with you, I look with encouragement 
for that guidance and Support which may 
enable us to fleer with fafety the veffel in 
which we are all embarked, amidfl the 
conflicting elements of a troubled w^orld. 


3 1 

Daring the conteft of opinion through 
which we have paft, the animation of dif- 
cuffions and of exertions has fometimes 
worn an afpect which might impofe on 
ftrangers unufed to think freely, and to 
fpeak and to write what th&y think ; but 
this being now decided by the voice of the 
nation announced according to the rules 
of the conftitution, all will of courfe ar¬ 
range themfelves under the will of the 
law, and unite in common efforts for the 
common good. All too will bear in 
mind this facred principle, that though 
the will of the majority is in all cafes to 
prevail, that will, to be rightful, muff be 
reafonable; that the minority poflefs their 
equal rights, which equal laws muff pro- 
led:, and to violate would be oppreffion. 
Let us then, fellow-citizens, unite, with 
one heart and one mind, let us reftore to 
focial intercourfe that harmony and affec¬ 
tion without which liberty, and even life 
itfelf, are but dreary things.-—And let us 




5 ^ 

reflect that having banifhed from our 
land that religious intolerance under 
which mankind fo long bled and fuffered, 
we have yet gained little, if we counte¬ 
nance a political intolerance, as defpotic, 
as wicked, and capable of as bitter and 
bloody perfections. During the throes 
and convulfions of the ancient world, dur¬ 
ing the agonizing fpafms of infuriated 
man, feeking through blood and {laughter 
his long loft liberty, it was not wonderful 
that the agitation of the billow’s fhould 
reach even this diftant and peaceful fhore; 
that this fhould be more felt & feared by 
foine, and lefs by others ; and fhould di¬ 
vide opinions as to meafures of fafety; 
but every difference of opinion is not a 
difference of principle. We have called 
by different names brethren of the fame 
principle. We are all republicans: we 
are all federalifts. If there be any among 
us who would wifh to diffolve this Union, 
or to change its republican form, let them 


ftand undidurbed as monuments of the 
fafety with which error of opinion may 
be tolerated, where reafon is left free to 
combat it. I know indeed that fome 
hone ft men fear that a republican gov¬ 
ernment cannot be flrong \ that this gov¬ 
ernment is not Itrong enough. But 
would the honed patriot, in the full tide 
of fuccefsful experiment, abandon a gov¬ 
ernment which has fo far kept us free 
and firm, on the theoretic and vifionary 
fear, that this government, the world's 
bed hope, may, by poffibility, want ener¬ 
gy to preferve itfelf ? I trud not. I be¬ 
lieve this, on the contrary, the dronged 
government on earth. I believe it the 
only one, where every man, at the call of 
the law, would fly to the dandard of the 
law, and would meet invafions of the 
public order as his own perfojial concern. 
Sometimes it is faid that man cannot be 
truded with the government of himfelfi 
Can he then be truded with the govern' 



54 

ittent of others ? Or have we found an- 
gels, in the form of kings, to govern 
him ? Let hlitory anfwer this queftion. 

Let us then, with courage and confi¬ 
dence, purfue our own federal and repub¬ 
lican principles; our attachment to union 
and reprefentative government. Kindly 
feparated by nature and a wide ocean 
from the exterminating havoc of one quar¬ 
ter of the globe ; too high minded to en¬ 
dure the degradations of the others, poffef- 
!Iing a chofen country, with room enough 
for our defendants to the thoufandth and 
thoiifandth generation , entertaining a due 
fenfe of our equal right to the ufe of our 
own faculties, to the acquifitions of our 
own induitry, to honor and confidence 
from our fellow-citizens, refulting not 
Lorn birth, but from our a&ions and 
their fenfe of them, enlightened by a be¬ 
nign religion, profelfed indeed and prafr- 
ifed in various forms, yet all of them in¬ 
culcating honefly, truth, temperance, 




gratitude and the love of man, acknowl¬ 
edging and adoring an overruling Provi¬ 
dence, which by all its difpenfations proves 
that it delights in the happinefs of man 
here, and his greater happinefs hereafter; 
with ail thefe bleilings, what more is ne- 
cefl'ary to make us a happy and a prof- 
perous people ? Still one tiling more, fek 
low-citizens, a wife and fruga l govern¬ 
ment, which (hall retrain men from in¬ 
juring one another, fhall leave them oth- 
erwife free to regulate their own purfuitg 
of induftry and im provem ent, and fhall 
not take from the mouth of labor the 
bread it has earned. This is the fum of 
good government; and this is neceflary 
to clqfe the circle of our felicities. 

About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the 
exercife of duties which comprehend ev¬ 
ery thing dear and valuable to you,, it is 
proper you fhould underfland what I 
deem the effential principles of our gov- 
eminent, and confequently thofe whic& 




ought to fhape its adminiftration. I wilj 
Comprefs them within the narroweft com- 
pafs they will bear, Hating the general 
principle, but not all its luminations.— 
equal and exad juftice to all men, of 
whatever Hate or perfualion, religious or 
political:—-peace, commerce, and honefi 
friendfhip with all nations, entangling al- 
liances with none:—-the fupport of the 
ftate governments in all their rights, as 
the moil competent adminiftrations for our 
domeftic concerns, and the furefl bulwark 
againft anti-republican tendencies: the pre- 
fervation of the general government in its 
Whole conftitutional vigor, as the fheet an¬ 
chor of ourpeaceat home, and fafety abroad; 
a jealous care of the right of elecfcon by 
the people, a mild and fafe ccrredive of 
abufes which are lopped by the fword of 
revolution, where peaceable remedies are 
unprovided abfolute acquiefcence in 
the decifions of the majority, the vital 
principle of republics, from which is no 


app'eal but to force, the vital principle 
and immediate parent of defpotifm:—a 
well difciplined militia, our bell reliance 
in peace, and for the firfl moments of 
war, till regulars may relieve them 
the fupremacy of the civil over the milita¬ 
ry authority —economy in the public ex¬ 
pence, that labor may be lightly burthen- 
ed :—the honeft payment of our debts, 
jmd facred prefervation of the public 
faith :—encouragement of agriculture, 
and of commerce as its hand maid 
the diffufion of information, and arraign¬ 
ment of all abides at the bar of the pub¬ 
lic reafon :—freedom of religion ; free¬ 
dom of the prefs ; and freedom of perfon, 
\ under the proteftion of the Habeas Cor¬ 
pus :—and trial by juries impartially fe- 
le&ed.—Thefe principles form the bright 
conflellation, which has gone before us, 
and guided our fteps througnt an age of 
revolution and reformation. The wifdom 
of cur feges, and blood of our heroes, 



3 8 

have been devpted to their attainment:—• 
they fhould be the creed of our political 
faith; the text of civic inflru&ion, the 
touchftone by which to try the fervices of 
thofe we trufl ; and fhould wew r ander from 
them in moments oferroror of alarm, let us 
ten to retrace our Heps, and to regain the 
road which alone leads to peace, liberty 
and fafety. 

I repair then, fellow-citizens, to the 
poll you have affigned me. With expe¬ 
rience enough in fubordinate offices to 
havefeen the difficulties of this the great- 
eft of all, I have learnt to expert that it 
will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man. 
to retire from this flation with the reputa¬ 
tion, and the favor, which bring him in¬ 
to it. Without pretentions to that high 
confidence you repofed in your firft and 
greateft revolutionary chara&er, whofe 
pre-eminent fervices had entitled him to 
the firft place in his country’s love, and 
deftined for him the faireff page in the 


59 

volume of faithful hiflory, I afk fo much 
confidence only as may give firmnefs and 
effed to the legal adminiflration of your 
affairs. I fhall often go wrong through 
defed of judgment. When right, I fhall 
often be thought wrong by thofe whofe 
pofitions will not command a view of the 
whole ground. I afk your indulgence 
for my own errors, which will never be 
intentional; and your fupport againft the 
errors of others, who may condemn what 
they would not, if feen in all its parts. 
The approbation implied by your fuffrage, 
is a great confolation to me for the paft ; 
and my future folicitude will be, to retain 
the good opinion of thofe who have be¬ 
llowed it in advance, to conciliate that of 
others, by doing them all the good in my 
power, and to be inflrumental in the hap- 
pinefs and freedom of all. 

Relying then on the patronage of your 
good will, I advance with obedience to the 
work* ready to retire from it whenever 


40 

you become fenfible how much better ' 
choices it is in your power to make. And 
may that infinite Power, which rules the 
deflinies of the univerfe, lead our councils 
to what is bell, and give them a favorable 
ilfue for your peace and profperity. 




i. 




LEMr ’10 





















































































































































































































































































































